Rock music lives on and will live forever because of people like “Scary FN” Terry Stevens. He supports the genre, cultivates its community, and parallels its abundant energy.
Stevens hosts Scary Terry’s Saturday Nightmare from 7PM to Midnight EST on radio stations Rock 94.7 (Rock947.com) and Q106 (Q106FM.com). He’s also Branch Manager, Gamemaster and Afternoon Goon on Q106. In addition, Stevens holds the role of Operations Manager for Midwest Communications, Inc in Lansing, MI.
Terry Stevens took time out his busy schedule to answer our “2020 Twenty Questions” questionnaire! We hope THIS INTERVIEW entertains and inspires you.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you to be alive?
Solid 10.
It’s interesting that you frame this in a numerical manner. I’m a bit of a numbers guy. I see “life” as a binary thing. It’s 1 or it’s 0. It’s off or it’s on. We’re ones and zeroes. We’re here or we’re not. So, while you’re here, give it all you got, ya know?
Any day I’m not in the grave is a good day. Life is always going to have its challenges, especially during something like the Covid-19 pandemic, but I’ll take life over death any day.
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be on the radio. Go figure, right?
When I was little, I would take two boom boxes and used one to record my talking bits in between songs I would play on the other boom box. Those cassettes are long gone, but I have vivid memories of making them.
I was a huge fan of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. I loved the storytelling in between the songs and the drama of hearing my favorite songs work their way up the chart. I always thought it would be cool to do radio stuff for a living.
What was your favorite cartoon?
As a kid? Transformers. The OG 80’s one. Huge Transformers nerd here. Megatron was an awesome bad guy.
Of all time? Avatar: The Last Airbender. Incredible storytelling. “Tales of Ba Sing Se” is one of the best episodes of television ever written.
Tell us your favorite song as a kid, as a teenager, and now as an adult.
As a kid, “Shout” by Tears for Fears. That was the first song that spoke to me and how I was feeling. I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at around 9 years old. In addition to that, my dad was batshit crazy. I had more than a little angst in my life at an early age. I remember going to “diabetic camp” and hearing that song on the radio. “Shout! Shout! Let it all out! These are the things I can do without”. That cut right to my core. Songs From the Big Chair was the first record I owned.
As a teenager, “You Can’t Bring Me Down” by Suicidal Tendencies. That song has everything I love about that era of metal. The lyrics are super-motivational too. Even thinking about it makes me want to kick ass and take names.
As an adult, the answer will change every 5 minutes, but I’m going to go with Gojira’s “Stranded”. Thundering riff, excellent lyrics. Can’t wait to hear their new album when it drops.
What’s an album that means more to you now than it did when you first heard it?
Come on Pilgrim by The Pixies. The first time I heard it, it was some decidedly not-metal bullcrap that my girlfriend liked. Today, it’s an album that has been a part of that girlfriend now wife’s and my life together. A lot of cool memories attached to that record.
What are your 3 favorite movies?
Star Wars IV: A New Hope. My youngest years were spent in little redneck towns that I always wanted to leave for bigger and better things. I could 100% relate to Luke Skywalker. This Yoda quote comes from The Empire Strikes Back, but it speaks to Luke’s and my perspective. “All his life has he looked away…to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing.” My wife gets on me about no appreciating the present enough. She’s right, but that future focus also feeds my motivation.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Endlessly quotable, always hilarious. I am always down to watch that movie whenever.
Dredd. Judge Dredd is one of my favorite fictional characters. The Stallone Judge Dredd film was awful. Thank goodness for the 2012 version with Karl Urban as the titular character. Great action film that is true to the source material.
What’s the last film that made you cry or almost cry, and what scene did it?
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. I can’t tell you what scene did it, as I don’t want to spoil the film. I will say this. It’s the best film you will never want to watch again.
What’s your all-time favorite TV show?
This is going to be such a cliché answer but Breaking Bad was terrific. There were a couple filler episodes, but the overall body of work is so strong that I can forgive them.
Which character on that show do you identify with most?
Oof. They’re all pretty terrible people. I can’t say that I identify with any of them, but I love watching their story. Maybe Walter White, but only because of his commitment to his plan.
What makes you laugh out loud or smile uncontrollably every time you see it or hear it?
I love a good “deez nutz” joke. What can I say? I’m a simple man with simple tastes.
Who in your family served you the most delicious, unforgettable dish you’ve ever eaten?
My wife does fantastic work in the kitchen! She has an excellent roster of meals, but my favorite is probably a chicken dish she makes wherein she flattens chicken breasts, and then rolls an herbed cheese and veggie mixture into them and bakes them.
Tell us the most nutritious thing you’ve fed your mind.
I’d say “Magic: The Gathering”. That game has a lot of moving parts, but there’s so much more to it than the cards and the rules. The design philosophy behind the game has been a huge influence on how I approach things in my day to day life.
By the way, you can get at me on “Magic Arena” via ScaryFNTerry#44629.
When did you start to understand your value?
When I started believing people when they said nice things about me. I used to not believe them. I’d think that their perception was flawed in some way. I’ve had issues with depression and the self-loathing that comes with it. My internal monologue can be very not fun.
Once I started to believe that I was the person others perceived me as, I felt a lot better about my value.
Who is the G.O.A.T. of your profession?
As an on-air host for a music-intensive show, Casey Kasem was the best, hands down. The storytelling, the way he would tease you into sticking around for his next bit. Dude was a master.
As an overall air personality, Gary Burbank. He’s retired now, but when he was on air, no one was funnier or more compelling.
As a director of a radio station, Randy Hawke of WJJO-FM in Madison, WI. Never worked with him or for him, but once upon a time he took the time to give me some insight into his programming philosophy. I put it to work in my stations, and it has worked out damn good. He’s an absolute pro.
Do you aspire to be like them or more like someone you have a stronger personal connection to?
I’ll never be Kasem, Burbank, or Hawke. It would be a pointless aspiration. I’d rather use their influence, along with the influence of other teachers and teachable moments, to be the highest and best version of myself.
Recall for us the first time you failed. What lesson did you learn from that?
First time playing in a soccer league as a kid. No idea what I was doing. Very little interest in the game itself. I did it because my parents thought my brother and I needed sports ball in our lives. My stats were non-existent.
The lesson? Don’t waste time with things you’re not passionate about. I’d rather fail at something I dig than fail at something I didn’t want to mess with in the first place.
In what way have you evolved over the last 12 months?
The biggest evolution I’ve had in the last 12 months is a confidence boost.
I had a very steady gig at my last station in Wausau, WI. We had a nice house in a nice neighborhood and a ton of friends. I could have lived there for the rest of my life. We were very happy there.
When the Ops Manager/Q106 Manager gig opened up, I had to go for it. I had to prove that I could do it. Even if I didn’t get it, I would have forever regretted not going for it.
My wife and kids and I had a lot of discussions about this move. In the end, we decided that it was the best move for all of us. I wouldn’t say that my wife and kids weren’t nervous about more than a bit of the move, but they believed in my ability to make it successful. After living in MI for over a year, we’re loving it here – although we’d be loving it more without Covid-19 messing with opportunities to socialize!
I improved my family’s lives, not to mention a few radio stations, with my skills. That’s definitely a confidence booster.
When was a time that someone you didn’t know did something nice for you? What did they do?
I was in Mason, MI for broadcast at an Outdoor Expo/Car Show/Tractor Pull thing. It was early. I needed coffee. I went to a vendor and discovered that they were cash only. I rarely carry cash, and this was one of those moments where there wasn’t any paper in my wallet. A gal by the name of Victoria who works for the Mason Chamber of Commerce overheard my plight and said, “I got you” and bought me a coffee. Anyone who helps out a coffee addict in need is a saint in my book.
How would you explain to someone the importance of valuing their time?
My wife has a quote for this. “The way we live our days is the way we live our lives”. If I’m not living my day the way I want to, what does that say about my life? Making your life better starts with making your day better. I have a quote for this too which takes us back to your first question. We’re ones and zeros. We’re here or we’re not. So, while you are here, give it all you got.
What’s been the biggest blessing of your life?
The invention of insulin. Seriously, I’d be dead without it.
As far as blessings that are slightly less morbid, my wife. She has had my back through all the things. My career wouldn’t be where it is without her support. She’s the mother of both of my beautiful, smart, talented kids. I’ll tell anyone, my marriage is the foundation upon which the rest of my life is built. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker and Alex aka Grand Kai]
(Editor’s Note: “This was super fun! Thanks for having me!” – Terry Stevens)
